Showing posts with label Southern Conference. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Southern Conference. Show all posts

Sunday, November 9, 2025

Mercer Survives Seven-Touchdown Day From Dickens in 49-47 Escape at Western Carolina

9:33 AM

CULLOWHEE – Mercer needed a 37-yard field goal from Reice Griffith with 90 seconds remaining to survive a record-breaking performance from Western Carolina quarterback Taron Dickens and claim at least a share of the Southern Conference championship with a 49-47 victory Saturday at E.J. Whitmire Stadium.


Dickens threw for a SoCon single-game record seven touchdown passes to five different receivers, finishing 33-of-49 for 551 yards in a back-and-forth shootout that saw the lead change hands multiple times in the fourth quarter. But Griffith's late field goal and a missed 33-yard attempt by Western Carolina's Marcus Trout as time expired allowed the Bears (8-1, 7-0 SoCon) to escape with the victory and secure the league's automatic bid to the FCS playoffs.


The Bears trailed 47-46 with 3:13 remaining after Western Carolina's James Tyre caught a 42-yard touchdown pass from Dickens. Mercer responded with a six-play, 45-yard drive that consumed 1:43 before Griffith connected on his second field goal of the game to put the Bears ahead for good.


Western Carolina (6-4, 5-1 SoCon) had one more chance. Dickens completed passes of 14 yards to Patrick Boyd Jr., 19 yards to Tyre and 20 yards to Malik Knight to move the Catamounts to the Mercer 15-yard line. After three running plays netted just four yards, Western Carolina elected to attempt the field goal rather than try for the first down. Following a Mercer timeout, Trout's kick missed wide right as time expired.


The two teams combined for 1,167 yards of total offense, including 994 through the air, with 10 combined passing touchdowns. Dickens connected with 11 different receivers, while freshman Mercer quarterback Braden Atkinson completed 23 of 39 passes for 443 yards and three touchdowns.


Mercer scored on its opening possession of the second half to take a 25-21 lead on a five-yard touchdown run by CJ Miller, who finished with 91 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. The Bears extended their advantage to 32-21 with 5:12 left in the third quarter when Atkinson found Kendall Harris for a 24-yard touchdown pass, Harris' second scoring catch of the game.


Western Carolina answered immediately. Knight caught a 23-yard pass to start the ensuing drive, and three plays later hauled in a 32-yard touchdown reception to cut the deficit to 32-27. But Miller responded with his third rushing touchdown, a 26-yard run with 24 seconds left in the third quarter, to push Mercer's lead back to 39-27.


The fourth quarter belonged to the Catamounts' passing attack. Knight opened the scoring with a 54-yard touchdown reception just 49 seconds into the period, pulling Western Carolina within 39-34. Mercer answered on its next possession when Atkinson connected with Adjatay Dabbs for an 81-yard touchdown that extended the lead to 46-34 with 13:25 remaining.


Western Carolina needed just three plays to respond. After an incompletion and a two-yard loss, Dickens found Jai Boyd for a 10-yard touchdown pass with 6:13 left, cutting Mercer's advantage to 46-41. The Catamounts forced a three-and-out, then needed just three plays to take the lead. Boyd Jr. gained one yard on first down before Dickens hit Tyre for the go-ahead 42-yard touchdown with 3:13 remaining.


Mercer faced second-and-22 from the Western Carolina 28 after a pass interference penalty wiped out what would have been a go-ahead touchdown pass to Harris. Atkinson completed passes of 10 and negative-two yards to Miller before Griffith's field goal attempt.


The game began as a defensive struggle by comparison to its eventual outcome. Western Carolina took the opening kickoff and needed nine plays to cover 65 yards, with Dickens finding Michael Rossin for a 27-yard touchdown pass with 11:40 left in the first quarter. Mercer answered with a five-play, 68-yard drive capped by Miller's seven-yard touchdown run.


Western Carolina regained the lead early in the second quarter when Dickens threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Boyd Jr., making it 14-7. But Mercer scored the next nine points, including a safety when Jordan Swain sacked Dickens in the end zone, followed by a six-yard touchdown pass from Atkinson to Harris that gave the Bears a 15-14 lead.


Dickens responded with his third touchdown pass of the half, a 25-yard strike to Rossin that capped an 11-play, 79-yard drive and gave Western Carolina a 21-15 lead with 5:25 left in the second quarter. Mercer drove to the Western Carolina seven but settled for Griffith's 24-yard field goal with 1:43 remaining in the half, leaving the Catamounts ahead 21-18 at halftime.


The teams traded punts to open the second half before Mercer took over at its own 25 following a touchback. The Bears needed just five plays to score, with Miller capping the 75-yard drive with his second touchdown run. After Western Carolina punted, Mercer recovered a fumble at the Catamounts' 35-yard line. Four plays later, Atkinson hit Harris for the 24-yard touchdown that extended the lead to 32-21.


Knight finished with five receptions for a career-high 141 yards and two touchdowns for Western Carolina. Boyd Jr. caught seven passes for a career-best 93 yards and a score, while Rossin had three catches for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Tyre finished with three receptions for 78 yards and his 11th touchdown catch of the season, the most in the SoCon.


For Mercer, Dabbs led all receivers with four catches for 147 yards and a touchdown. Harris caught six passes for 73 yards and two scores, while Miller added three receptions for 57 yards to go with his rushing total, giving him 148 yards of total offense.


Samaurie Dukes led Western Carolina with a career-high 13 tackles, while Hasaan Sykes added 10 stops. Micah Nelson, Ken Moore Jr. and Caleb Fisher each recorded a tackle for loss. The Catamounts registered eight quarterback hurries, including two each by Jordan Thompson and Justin Wallace.


Julian Fox paced Mercer's defense with 13 tackles, and Drew Clare added 10 stops plus a fumble recovery. The Bears recorded four sacks from four different players, with Swain's safety coming on his sack in the second quarter. Kaleb Hutchinson recorded Mercer's only interception, picking off Dickens at the goal line as time expired in the first half.


The victory gives Mercer at least a share of the 2025 SoCon regular-season championship with one game remaining. The Bears clinched the league's automatic qualifier to the NCAA FCS playoffs by securing the tiebreaker over Western Carolina, the only team that can match their conference record. Mercer hosts Chattanooga next Saturday.


Western Carolina hosts East Tennessee State next Saturday in its regular-season finale on Senior Day.


Top Performers

  • Taron Dickens, WCU: 33-of-49 passing, 551 yards, 7 TDs, 1 INT (SoCon single-game record for TD passes)
  • Braden Atkinson, Mercer: 23-of-39 passing, 443 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT
  • Malik Knight, WCU: 5 receptions, 141 yards, 2 TDs
  • CJ Miller, Mercer: 21 rushes for 91 yards and 3 TDs; 3 receptions for 57 yards
  • Adjatay Dabbs, Mercer: 4 receptions, 147 yards, 1 TD
  • Kendall Harris, Mercer: 6 receptions, 73 yards, 2 TDs
  • Patrick Boyd Jr., WCU: 7 receptions, 93 yards, 1 TD
  • Samaurie Dukes, WCU: 13 tackles
  • Julian Fox, Mercer: 13 tackles

Mercer Survives Seven-Touchdown Day From Dickens in 49-47 Escape at Western Carolina
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Thursday, July 24, 2025

Western Carolina Eyes Playoff Breakthrough After Preseason Buzz at SoCon Media Day

3:24 PM
GREENVILLE, SC – For Western Carolina, the message out of Southern Conference Football Media Day was clear: the pieces are in place. Now it’s time to finish the job.


After back-to-back seven-win seasons and a runner-up finish in the SoCon standings a year ago, the Catamounts arrive at the 2025 season with both preseason accolades and lingering urgency. Third-year quarterback Taron Dickens was named the SoCon Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, headlining a league-best 11 all-conference selections tied with defending champion Mercer. But beneath the optimism lies a sobering reality: it’s been four decades since Western Carolina last reached the FCS playoffs.


Fifth-year head coach Kerwin Bell, who has rebuilt the program’s identity since arriving in Cullowhee, didn’t mince words about the stakes ahead.


“We’ve been building toward this, but now it’s time to convert red zone trips into touchdowns, not field goals,” Bell said during media availability. “That’s the difference between seven wins and making a run in the postseason.”


Dickens Steps Into Spotlight

Much of the Catamounts’ hopes hinge on redshirt sophomore quarterback Taron Dickens, who takes over full-time after showing flashes of brilliance in 2024. In seven appearances (four starts), Dickens threw for 1,428 yards and 12 touchdowns while adding two more scores on the ground. His 431-yard, five-touchdown performance in a comeback win over Chattanooga earned him national freshman of the week honors last November.


Now the keys to Bell’s high-octane offense belong solely to him.


“He’s a Hall of Fame point guard kind of quarterback,” said Bell. “He distributes the ball, makes great decisions, and doesn’t turn it over. That’s what we want, someone who runs the system, not just someone who slings it.”


Dickens replaces the now-departed Cole Gonzalez, but Bell emphasized continuity. Both players, he said, were recruited specifically to execute his rhythm-based, spread passing attack.


“Taron is efficient. He’s a natural fit in what we do, and I believe he’s ready to lead us where we need to go,” Bell said.


Weapons on Both Sides of the Ball

While Western lost key contributors to the portal, the cupboard is far from bare. Running back Branson Adams earned a spot on the preseason first team, while wide receiver Malik Knight landed on the second team. Bell also pointed to J Boyd and Jaylen Terzado as playmakers expected to step into larger roles.


Up front, Zach Watson (first team) and Aaron Sanez (second team) anchor an offensive line that Bell believes is the strongest he’s had at WCU.


But the biggest strides may come defensively.


The Catamounts return three preseason All-SoCon defenders, including first-team defensive end Caleb Fisher, linebacker Hayward McQueen Jr., and cornerback Ken Moore Jr. Second-team selections Micah Nelson, Blue Monroe, and Samaurie Dukes round out a veteran-heavy unit that has steadily improved under second-year defensive coordinator Jerry Odom.


“We’ve gotten bigger, faster, and stronger,” Bell said. “That’s where we were behind a couple years ago. Now I think we’ve closed the gap, especially in the trenches.”


Nelson, who enters his seventh year at WCU, and Fisher, a fifth-year senior, provide leadership up front. Fisher tallied 37 tackles and 7.0 TFLs last fall, while Nelson added 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.


Respect Earned, Not Given

In the preseason coaches poll, Western Carolina slotted in third behind Mercer and Chattanooga, even picking up one first-place vote. The Catamounts are also ranked No. 18 in the HERO Sports FCS Preseason Top 25. Still, Bell said the goal isn’t recognition, it’s consistency.


“Last year we let one slip at Campbell that really hurt us,” he recalled. “You can’t have those games if you want to be a playoff team. We need to handle our business every week.”


Western Carolina returns 35 lettermen from the 2024 roster and opens the season against Gardner-Webb, a team Bell said resembles Pittsburgh defensively. Early preparation for the opener is already underway.


“They’re athletic and aggressive,” said Bell. “We’re not easing into anything. We’re jumping right into a test.”


SoCon Parity Remains a Challenge

The Southern Conference, Bell emphasized, offers little room for error. All nine teams play each other, meaning the path to a title, and a playoff bid, requires week-to-week focus and depth.


Mercer, led by 2024 SoCon Coach of the Year Mike Jacobs, enters the season as the favorite with six first-place votes. The Bears finished 11-3 last year and return Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Andrew Zock, a sophomore defensive lineman who logged 14.5 TFLs and seven sacks as a freshman.


Chattanooga picked up two first-place votes and is expected to contend again after a 7-5 season. ETSU, Samford, and Furman round out a tight second tier, while Wofford, The Citadel, and VMI look to rebound from tough 2024 campaigns.


“This league is brutal,” Bell said. “Every road trip is tough. Every coach is experienced. You have to bring your A-game every Saturday.”


Final Word: Time to Deliver

With talent at the skill positions, experience in the trenches, and a rising star under center, Western Carolina enters 2025 with legitimate title aspirations. But the Catamounts know that preseason honors mean little if December comes and goes without a playoff invitation.


“We’ve been close, but close doesn’t cut it,” Bell said. “This team has the leadership, the talent, and the hunger. Now we have to go prove it.”

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Saturday, October 21, 2023

#3 Furman Holds Off #8 Western Carolina in SoCon Showdown

5:55 PM

CULLOWHEE – A quiet mountain town hosted a raucous college football game on Saturday afternoon. Two teams, conference rivals for longer than many fans have been alive, faced off for the first time as opponents ranked in the top ten nationally. The momentum shifted on a whim at times as the sun made its way over EJ Whitmire Stadium, but it was the Furman Paladins and quarterback Tyler Huff who delivered the final blow and defeated the host Western Carolina Catamounts, 29-17 to put themselves in the driver’s seat for the Southern Conference title.

Western rolled the dice to start the game, going for it on fourth down near the Furman forty-yard-line but a dropped pass gave the ball to Furman. The Paladins, on the offensive for the first time for the afternoon, moved the ball pretty well with a mix of runs and passes. A roll-out pass from the nine-yard-line from Tyler Huff to Mason Pline got the Paladins on the board and an offside penalty negated a missed PAT attempt. The Paladins decided to go for two with the second chance, but Andreas Keaton broke up a pass near the goal line to keep it 6-0 early in the first half. The Catamounts’ second drive played out much like the first drive with the home team facing a fourth and short and coming up short. Furman went sixty-six yards on five plays and extended their lead to thirteen with Huff’s second touchdown of the half, this one a sixteen-yard toss to Colton Hinton.

Western Carolina mounted yet another yard-consuming drive as the first quarter clock ran out. When the second quarter began, the Catamounts were situated in the red zone, hoping to claw back some of the two-score deficit the visiting Paladins forced upon them. Cole Gonzales’s nine-yard touchdown pass to AJ Colombo did just that and the Catamounts faithful celebrated the home team’s first points of the day. Furman ensured that celebration would be short-lived as Wayne Anderson rushed fifty-four yards down the home sideline to set up another Furman score two plays later, a nine-yard scamper by Dominic Roberto.

Western Carolina was willing to tempt the fates on the ensuing drive, taking another risk on a fourth down play. Like the two prior fourth down attempts, the pass was incomplete and the Paladins took over. Unlike previous possessions, however, the Catamounts defense held firm and forced the first punt of the afternoon. The Western Carolina offense regrouped, cheering on their defense for keeping them in the game, and responded in kind, marching sixty-three yards in eight plays with Cole Gonzales finding David White by the pylon to make it 20-14 late in the half. Furman attempted a long field goal as time ran out in the half, but it was wide right.

Furman wanted to force the Catamounts to play their style of football coming out of the half. Taking seven-and-a-half minutes off of the clock, the Paladins marched sixty-nine yards and were on the doorstep of making it a two-score game. The Western Carolina defense stood strong and forced a field goal attempt, but the snap was bobbled, and the Catamounts took over, seeking a potential tying or go-ahead score. That hope grew as the home team marched down the field, but a pass intended for a Catamounts receiver in the end zone was picked off by Furman’s Cally Chizik whose momentum carried him out of the end zone and out of bounds at the one-yard-line. The Western Carolina defense rallied to the aid of their offense, forcing a Furman punt that was shanked and went out of bounds at the thirty-five-yard line. Western Carolina’s offense faced the same fate as their counterparts, finding themselves unable to move the ball and forced to punt. 

Both teams traded field goals midway through the final quarter to keep the margin close, but Tyler Huff drove the final stake in the hearts of the Catamounts faithful with a fifty-three-yard touchdown run down the visiting sideline with under a minute left on the clock. A Western comeback attempt was thwarted and the Paladins were able to kneel to run out the final seconds of the clock and continue their perfect streak in conference play.


Notable North Carolinians

Dominic Roberto (Pine Forest) – the graduate running back led the Paladins with 154 rushing yards.

Branson Adams (Dudley) – the sophomore running back led the Catamounts with sixty-one rushing yards.

AJ Colombo (Cuthbertson) – the sophomore wide receiver opened the scoring for the Catamounts with a touchdown reception in the second quarter.


Up Next

Both teams are at home in Southern Conference action as Western Carolina (5-2, 3-1) hosts Mercer for homecoming while Furman (6-1, 4-0) hosts East Tennessee State.


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Sunday, September 24, 2023

Western Carolina Dominates Charleston Southern in 77-21 Victory

11:21 AM

CULLOWHEE – The #23-ranked Western Carolina football team put on a sensational offensive display on Saturday, securing a resounding 77-21 victory over Charleston Southern. The game took place on Bob Waters Field at E.J. Whitmire Stadium and attracted an enthusiastic crowd of 13,357 fans, as it coincided with Family Weekend.

Western Carolina's offense was nothing short of spectacular, amassing a staggering 683 yards of total offense and 11 touchdowns. Quarterback Cole Gonzales was in exceptional form, throwing five touchdown passes in the first half alone, connecting with four different receivers, including a pair of scores to AJ Colombo. Gonzales began the game with a perfect 12-for-12 passing, completing five touchdowns before his first incompletion. He ended the game 14-of-16 for 299 yards. Notably, three different quarterbacks contributed to the offensive onslaught, with Brody Palhegyi and true freshman Taron Dickens also finding success through the air.

Photo Credit: Samuel Wallace (WCU Communications and Marketing)

Desmond Reid led the charge on the ground, racking up 111 yards on 13 carries and scoring two touchdowns. The Lions scored a remarkable 42 points in the first half, matching a school record they've achieved three times since 2004. Gonzales' passing prowess was complemented by a total of 12 different receivers, including true freshman Corey Washington, who recorded a career-best three receptions for 108 receiving yards.

Defensively, Western Carolina limited Charleston Southern to 223 total yards, with standout performances from LB Va Lealaimatafao, redshirt freshman Ken Moore Jr., and end Curtis Fann Jr. Western Carolina improved its record to 3-1, with a 1-0 mark in SoCon play.

Next on the schedule, Western Carolina embarks on a two-game road swing through conference play, beginning with a matchup against The Citadel Bulldogs (0-4, 0-1 SoCon) at Johnson Hagood Stadium in Charleston next Saturday at 2 p.m.

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Saturday, September 15, 2018

Tyrie Adams Leads Western Carolina to 28-10 Victory Over Gardner-Webb

12:10 AM
BOILING SPRINGS – Friday nights are usually reserved for high school football in North Carolina. Hurricane Florence, however, has thrown that idea into the wind. News of game postponements or cancellations filled news feeds throughout the week. For Gardner-Webb and Western Carolina, two FCS programs separated by only 116 miles, getting an intrastate game in this week before the storms rolled in was a high priority. While the upcoming weather forecast was uncertain, the Western Carolina offense was not, totaling 475 yards in a 28-10 win over Gardner-Webb Friday night at Ernest Spangler Stadium.

Gardner-Webb's game against Western Carolina was moved up to Friday night due to Hurricane Florence, which was approaching the area on Friday evening. The edge of the storm could be seen in the distance from the stadium.
Shaking off an injury that required stitches in the first half, dual-threat QB Tyrie Adams paced the WCU offense, leading the Catamounts with his arm and his feet. The redshirt junior was 13 of 24 for 108 yards and two scores through the air. He also ran twelve times for 106 yards. Running back Connell Young churned out the yards as well, giving coach Mark Speir two 100-yard rushers for the night. "That was something we worked on all week in anticipation of this weather. We had to make sure we had a rain plan, and more importantly, a wind plan ready and I think our guys did a good job. We knew we were going to have to come in here and run the football. We've got a veteran o-line and they did a good job tonight," Coach Speir mentioned after the game.

When it seemed like the Gardner-Webb offense was trying to gain momentum, Western Carolina's JerMichael White and the Catamount defense stepped in and shut the Runnin' Bulldogs down. The senior from Tennessee picked off Gardner-Webb twice on the evening, which helped Western hold Gardner-Webb to only 73 yards in the second half.

Notable North Carolinians
Connell Young (Dudley) – ran for 105 yards and a touchdown; also caught six passes for 66 yards and a score
Donnavan Spencer (Vance) – ran nine times for 69 yards, including a big 46-yard run to get WCU out of the shadow of their own end zone in the third quarter
Jayln Cagle (Brown) – ran twenty-five times for 83 yards and a touchdown

Other notes and observations
Even with the game being moved up to Friday night, there were still a decent number of fans attending the game.
Neither team took advantage of the new fair catch rule and only totaled 64 kick return yards on the night.
When Tyrie Adams went out with an injury for part of the first half, freshman QB Will Jones (Page) stepped in and connected on three of his four passes for 42 yards and a touchdown.
With the win tonight, Western Carolina is 2-0 for the first time since 2006.

Up next
Western Carolina (2-0) opens its Southern Conference schedule with a game against VMI next week at E.J. Whitmire Stadium while Gardner-Webb (1-2) travels to Boone's Kidd Brewer Stadium to take on FBS Appalachian State (1-1).



WCU
Stats
GWU
475
Total Yds
246
150
Pass Yds
149
325
Rush Yds
97
5-58
Penalties
5-30
23
1st Downs
18
11-18
3rd Downs
9-18
0-0
4th Downs
1-2
74
Total Plays
70
2-3
Red Zone
2-3
28:52
Time of Poss
31:08
0 (0)
Turnovers Pts Off)
2 (7)
0-0
Fumbles-Lost
0-0
5 (31)
Sacks (Def Yds)
1 (6)
11 (49)
TFL (Def Yds)
3 (13)


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Thursday, September 24, 2015

Gardner-Webb To Take on Wofford on Saturday

10:06 PM
BOILING SPRINGS -- Gardner-Webb travels 42 miles south to face Southern Conference member Wofford (1-2) on Saturday, September 26. Kickoff is set for 7:00 pm sharp in Gibbs Stadium, with an online broadcast set for the SoCon Digital Network. Fabian Fuentes and Alex Guest will bring the action into cyberspace as well on wgwg.org, the online home of Gardner-Webb University athletics.

Gardner-Webb and Wofford will meet for the 25th time, with the Terriers holding a 16-8 edge in the all-time series ... The two programs first met as NAIA members in 1972 and have also played as members of NCAA Division II and now NCAA Division I (FCS) ... GWU has taken the last two meetings, winning 3-0 on September 21, 2013 in Spartanburg and 43-36 last September 26 in Boiling Springs ... The two-game streak is the longest for GWU in the series ... Wofford won six meetings in a row from 1994-2012 ... The two teams did not play from 1995-2003, with Wofford making the jump to NCAA Division I ... Gardner-Webb made the move up prior to the 2000 season.

Gardner-Webb head coach Carroll McCray (Class of '83) returned to his alma mater in 2013 and has forged a 12-15 record so far in his time in Boiling Springs. Wofford head coach Mike Ayers is in his 28th season in charge of the Terriers and has won 183 games during that time. That includes eight total NCAA playoff appearances.

Gardner-Webb starting quartet at linebacker has been as impressive as expected through three games. The foursome of Tanner Burch (6-3, 248, RSr.), Aaron Cook (6-1, 233, Jr.), Chad Geter (6-2, 242, RJr.) and Azziz Higgins (6-2, 230, Sr.) have combined for 112 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks through three games. Each of the four men has at least one game with 10 or more tackles – with Burch (12 hits), Cook (10 hits) and Higgins (10 hits) all doing so against Elon. Geter had nine tackles against the Phoenix after leading the team with 10 at South Alabama. Cook had 14 total hits vs. Virginia Union and leads the Big South with 33 total tackles.

Gardner-Webb's defense faced an unenviable task against a game Virginia Union squad on September 19, as the Panthers ran 19 offensive snaps inside the GWU 10-yard line in the game. The Runnin' Bulldogs were up to the task, despite facing an offensive line that averaged a mammoth 6-5, 321 pounds per man. Virginia Union did not score on those 19 snaps, with its lone touchdown coming on a 4th-and goal from the 13-yard line in the fourth quarter. GWU had a goal line stand on 4th down from its half yard line in the second quarter and forced a fumble on third-and-goal from the one in the third quarter. A stop on fourth down at the four-yard line with 1:54 left sealed the game.

Gardner-Webb ranks fifth nationally after three games in red zone defense, leading the Big South by allowing just a 44 percent success rate. GWU has allowed just two touchdowns in nine red zone chances, both through the air. That 22 percent touchdown success rate is also tops in the Big South Conference to date. The Runnin' Bulldogs will have a significant challenge in the red zone Saturday. Wofford is tied for the national lead in red zone offense, converting all nine of its trips inside the 20 so far (six touchdowns).

Hampered by injuries on the offensive side of the ball against Virginia Union, Gardner-Webb battled with eight true freshmen seeing extended snaps offensively and two more redshirt freshman also seeing their first action of the season. Receiver Adonus Lee (6-4, 215, Fr.) and tackle Will Millikan (6-4, 288, Fr.) each started, with Lee earning his first start of 2015. Quarterback Brody Rollins (5-11, 175, Fr.), running back Josh Bettistea (5-11, 175, Fr.) and running back/receiver Jonathan Blackmon (6-0, 190, Fr.) each saw their first action of the season. Rollins ran 14 times for 69 yards, and driected two scoring drives – one that Bettistea capped with an 11-yard touchdown on his first career carry. Bettistea, a highly-recruited back, led Cobb County (Ga.) in rushing as a junior in 2013 and was a first-team Class 5A All-State selection at Alatoona (Ga.) High.

Gardner-Webb stopped Virginia Union three times inside its own 5-yard line and used a pair of Paul Schumacher field goals to beat the Division II Panthers, 13-9, Saturday night in Spangler Stadium. Virginia Union entered the game with 23 Division I transfers on its roster, including men who had played at Syracuse, Louisville, UCF, Virginia and Virginia Tech, and had won nine of its previous 12 contests. Playing without starting quarterback Tyrell Maxwell, GWU got a second-quarter lift from true freshman Brody Rollins, who led a pair of scoring drives for a 10-0 lead at the break. After Virginia Union recorded a third-quarter safety, Rollins moved GWU into field goal range again, and Schumacher's 40-yarder put the 'Dogs up 13-2 with just over 12 minutes left in the game. A wild final 10 minutes saw Virginia Union score on 4th-and-goal from the 13 and advance all the way to the GWU five-yard line before cornerback D.J. Allen made a tackle on fourth down with 1:54 left to end the threat.

Gardner-Webb fought tooth-and-nail at FBS foe South Alabama on a muggy evening in Ladd-Peebles Stadium, but fell to the Jags by a 33-23 score. The Runnin' Bulldogs scored 16 unanswered points to span halftime – taking a 16-13 lead with 10:21 to play in the third quarter on Angel Guzman's 21-yard interception return for a score. Laron Glenn had trimmed the South Alabama lead to 13-9 just before halftime with a safety. South Alabama answered with 20 points in a row, getting scores of 56 and 92 yards from speedster Xavier Johnson to take control. The Jags used the big play effectively against GWU, scored all four touchdowns from at least 49 yards away – and totaling more than 60 percent of their offensive total on just those four plays.

Tight end Mike Estes (6-4, 240, RJr.) has been strong early in 2015, already tying his previous career-high with three touchdown catches. He hauled in four passes for a career-best 89 yards and two scores in the season opener, with a 48-yard scoring catch from Tyrell Maxwell early in the second quarter providing an early highlight. He also had a diving grab for 24 yards and hauled in a five-yard touchdown on GWU's final drive. All four of his catches against the Jaguars went for first downs. Estes followed with five catches for 33 yards and the game-tying score vs. Elon with no time left in regulation. The Raleigh, N.C., native now has 62 career receptions for 814 yards and six touchdowns.

Preseason All-America and STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year Watch List member OJ Mau (6-2, 319, Sr.) has been solid through three starts in 2015. Matched up against one of the top centers in the FBS in week one, Mau came away with two solo stops and a half tackle for loss. The Big South's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year followed with six hits and 2.5 tackles for loss in another strong performance against Elon and had 2.0 tackles for loss and a sack against Virginia Union. He has collected 25.5 tackles behind the line for his career.

Gardner-Webb's coaching staff has garnered significant experience – both as players and coaches – at the highest level of college football. Head coach Carroll McCray has spent time at both South Carolina and Mississippi State as offensive line coach. Defensive coordinator Randall McCray spent time at South Carolina as a graduate assistant, and has been a position coach at both Wisconsin and Pittsburgh. The younger McCray also worked as defensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee State, among other Division I stops during his career. Running backs coach Brett Hickman worked as a graduate assistant at East Carolina. Quarterbacks coach Brett Nichols played at South Carolina, receivers coach La'Donte Harris played at Clemson, assistant head coach / offensive line coach Kenny Ray played at Southern Miss and defensive line coach Issac Mooring played at North Carolina.

Often overlooked with the hoopla surrounding Gardner-Webb's front seven is its secondary, which has performed well through three games this season. Starting corners Ivan Toomer (6-1, 199, RSr.) and Angel Guzman and safeties Spencer Havird (6-2, 192, RSo.) and Adam Johnson (5-8, 181, RSr.) have spearheaded an effort that has Gardner-Webb currently ranked 16th nationally in pass defense (155.0 ypg) and 19th in pass efficiency defense (105.49). Havird has posted 24 stops (16 solo), four pass break ups, one pick (26 yards) and a forced fumble from his free safety post. Guzman has a pick six to his credit and recovered a goal line fumble in Week Three. Toomer has swatted away three passes and Johnson has a 24-yard interception return to his credit. Reserve corners Jonathan Sherrill (6-3, 205, Sr.) and D.J. Allen (6-3, 210, RFr.) have exceptional size and have each made big plays already in 2015. Reserve safeties Trey Lucas (5-11, 197, RSo.) and Thomas Adams (6-2, 196, RSo.) have combined for 14 stops and Lucas forced a key fumble vs. Virginia Union. Newcomer Robert McKoy (5-11, 190, Fr.) has also shown flashes of early potential at safety.

Saturday's Gardner-Webb/Wofford tilt will be played on the same field as the annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, an event that pits the top high school talent from North Carolina and South Carolina each December. Gardner-Webb has five former Shrine Bowlers on its 2015 roster: linebacker Aaron Cook (6-1, 233, Jr.) from Strom Thurmond (S.C.) High; offensive guard Dylan Hopper (6-4, 300, Sr.) from Crest (N.C.) High; quarterback Tyrell Maxwell (6-2, 213, So.) from Edisto (S.C.) High; safety Robert McKoy (5-11, 190, Fr.) from Scotland County (N.C.) High and linebacker Quinton Patterson (6-1, 245, RSo.) from Crest (N.C.) High. Patterson, who transferred to GWU after one season at NC State, was named Defensive MVP for his performance in 2012.

Quarterback Tyrell Maxwell (6-2, 213, So.) became the first new starter at the quarterback position in 35 games when he took the first snap at South Alabama on September 5. Recruited by both Georgia Tech and Missouri as a cornerback, Maxwell was rated as the No. 31 dual threat quarterback in the prep class of 2014 by ESPN.com, and was effective as both a runner and passer in his starting debut. Maxwell became the first Big South quarterback to rush for 100+ yards and pass for 100+ yards against an FBS foe in league history when he went for 132 through the air (2 TD) and 102 on the ground agains the Jags (Sun Belt) – a team that was a bowl participant last season. Maxwell was the first Gardner-Webb quarterback to accomplish the feat overall since Nick Roberts did so against UT-Martin on September 24, 2005.

Gardner-Webb will enjoy an open date next weekend and will spend the time off preparing for the Big South opener on October 10 – a home game against 10th-ranked Liberty. That game will air live on ASN as the Big South's Game of the Week, with kickoff set for 7:00 pm in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium.
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